title: Serum liver fatty acid binding protein shows good correlation with liver histology in NASH.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Simple, reproducible and non-invasive tests that can be used to determine the severity of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are needed. Liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) plays a key role in the fatty acid metabolism of the liver. We aimed to determine whether serum L-FABP levels in patients with NASH were different from those in healthy controls, and if so, whether this was associated with the degree of fibrosis, steatosis and inflammatory activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven patients with histologically confirmed NASH and 41 healthy controls were included in the study. Serum L-FABP levels were measured in all participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean L-FABP levels were significantly higher in patients with NASH compared to the control group (2703.19±1603.47 vs. 1684.58±860.19, p<0.001). Serum L-FABP levels showed a significant positive correlation with NAS score (p=0.03, r=0.312), the degree of fibrosis (p=0.02, r=0.324) and inflammation (p=0.03, r=0.312), BMI (p=0.05, r=0.303), serum ALT (p=0.01, r=0.28), AST (p=0.04, r=0.315), and triglyceride levels (p=0.03, r=0.328).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum L-FABP levels are elevated in NASH and this elevation is positively correlated with the degree of fibrosis and inflammation. L-FABP levels may aid as a non-invasive marker in determining the severity of fibrosis and inflammation in patients with NASH.
authors.forename: Seren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Özenirler
authors.forename: Ceyla Konca
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Degertekin
authors.forename: Gulbanu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Erkan
authors.forename: Şehri
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Elbeğ
authors.forename: Candan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kandilc
authors.forename: Gulen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akyol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins